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Sinn Féin welcomes possible recall of Dáil

Responding to reports that the Dáil may be recalled to discuss the
deployment of Irish troops as part of a UN peacekeeping force, Sinn Féin
spokesperson on International Affairs, Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD welcomed the
suggestion from Minister Dermot Ahern. He warned however that deploying UN
forces in south Lebanon was insufficient when no similar force was to be
deployed in northern Israel.

The Dublin South Central TD said: "If there is a contribution that the Irish
people can make to ensuring peace and stability in the Middle East, and the
Lebanese government are supportive, then I believe we have a duty to
seriously consider such a commitment. I welcome the willingness of the
Government to give serious consideration to this proposal and Sinn Féin
would support the recall of the Dáil to discuss this.

"But the reality is that deploying UN forces in the south of Lebanon alone
is clearly insufficient. It is Israel who invaded Lebanon. It is Israel who
is responsible for the deaths of hundreds of Lebanese civilians and the
destruction of that nation's infrastructure. It is Israeli aggression, its
continued occupation of part of southern Lebanon, and of Palestine, and its
continued detention of Lebanese and Palestinian prisoners, that is at the
heart of the tensions in the Middle East.

"Sinn Féin has said from the start that UN forces should be obliged to
ensure a demilitarised zone south of the Israeli border to prevent possible,
indeed probable, future Israeli attacks on Lebanese civilians. The presence
of armed and hostile Israeli forces on the Lebanese border will be a
constant threat both to the people of Lebanon, and to any UN force deployed
in the region.

"Four UN observers died during the most recent Lebanese invasion, and just
over 25 years ago Privates Barrett and Smallhorn of the Irish Defence Forces
were executed by Israeli surrogates. There are therefore, substantial risks,
and an element of caution is required, but we would support the recall of
the Dáil to give this matter the consideration it is due."